PERSONAL POWER

This topic is by far one of the central themes with coaching clients and one of the most observable leadership traits.  You know it when you see it – that ease, grace, authentic confidence that draws you in and has you trust immediately.  You also know when you don’t feel you have it – that unsettled, low self-esteem place that plays out defensively, has you constantly apologizing and sometimes comes out as aggressive anger.

Personal power starts by believing/thinking you have personal power – we all have it, but too often we give our personal power away by thinking we don’t have any, that we don’t matter, aren’t worthy.  Our belief in ourselves, hence our self-esteem, is core to believing we have personal power.  Personal power is a rich amalgam of taking action, influencing others, making a positive impact and inspiring others to their greatness.

Start by taking responsibility for your life:

• Be responsible for who you are – the good, the bad and the ugly – your thoughts, words and actions
• Know where/what you’re good at
• Know what you’re not good at and where you can be a jerk
• Know your top 5 strengths – really know them so they show up and walk in a room with you
• Know your key weakness that can trip you up when you’re unconscious to your actions

Some noticeable characteristics of people with personal power, they . . .

• Know who they are – move in the world with an ease of authentic self-knowing
• Are self-aware and responsible for their thoughts, words and actions
• Speak with gratitude and love
• Have a generosity of spirit
• Are kind and respectful
• Are self-expressed and exude joy
• Operate from an abundance model versus a scarcity model
• Make space for other’s greatness – take joy in others’ accomplishments
• Inspire others to action
• Make a mistake, quickly own it and clean it up
• Never stop reinventing themselves
• Keep the big picture in mind and focus on what matters
• Seek to understand first, then to be understood
• Build fantastic connections and deep relationships
• Achieve extraordinary results

Personal power is as much a state of mind as it is deliberate actions.  “The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life”.  I urge you to examine your own personal power.